Automatic macerator unit



United States Patent Inventors William H. Smyers, Jr., and

Ronald D. Russo, Wethersiield, Connecticut Appl. No. 783,472

Filed Dec. 13, 1968 Patented Nov. 10, 1970 Assignee Koehler-Dayton,Inc..

Dayton, Ohio a corporation of Ohio AUTOMATIC MACERATOR UNIT 13 Claims,12 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 210/143, 210/152 Int. Cl. 301d Field of Search 210/143, 152, 9197 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,451,552 6/1969 Carlson210/152 Primary ExaminerCarroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney-Marechal,Biebel. French & Bugg ABSTRACT: A treatment unit for use on toilets usedin small ships including a housing having separate holding chambers witha treatment chamber disposed therebetween. A macerator reduces the sizeof solids in the first chamber after which the effluent flows into atreatment chamber containing a plurality of chemical tablets forpurifying the effluent. The effluent then passes into the second holdingchamber from which it is discharged from the unit. The weight of thechemical tablets exert a pressure on a diaphragm which closes a switchfor normal operations of the unit. When the level of tablets is below apreset minimum the switch opens and the macerator will not operate. Apressure operated time delay switch is utilized to initiate operation ofthe macerator upon an increase in pressure in the inlet to the unit. Twoembodiments of the diaphragm and switch are disclosed.

FIG, 1

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Patented Nov. 10, 1970 WILLIAM H. SMYERS,JR. 8- By RONALD D. RUSSO WW M?ATTORNEYS Patented Nqv. 10, 1970 3,539,010

Sheet 2 of3 1 AUTOMATIC MACERATOR UNIT CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATEDAPPLICATIONS This application is related to applications Ser. No.659,517, filed Aug. 9, 1967, now US. Pat. No. 3,5I 0,000; Ser. No.659,372,filed Aug. 9, 1967, now US. Pat. No. 3,45 l ,552; and

Ser. No. 764,769,filed Oct. 3, 1968.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 This invention relates to a treatment unitfor toilets, for example, those used in boats and other vehicles wherethe effluent from the toilet mustbe treated. Prior art devices haveincluded various forms of macerator units, but these units generallyhave not recognized the desirability of reducing to a predetermined sizeall solids-in the effluent, whereby effective chemical treatment can beachieved to kill substantially all bacteria in theeffluent.

In the related application listed above, the treatment of the effluentis effected by the use of chlorine tablets over which theeffluent ispassed before flowing into the second holding chamber. These tabletsdissolve to purify the effluent by killing the bacteria, and when theyare consumed they must be replenished or the effluent discharged fromthe unit will not be free of bacteria and thus will be unacceptable fordischarge into the lakes and streams.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION,

An automatic sensing means for sensing and signaling the level orpressure of a flowable material in a chamber by using a movablediaphragm member against which the material acts to'pivot a diaphragmactuated plate to operate an electrical switch. In a preferredcombination, the present invention provides a treatment unit forflushing toilet accommodations on a boat or the like,wherein a maceratorreduces the size of the solids in the effluent prior to passage intoatreatment chamber containing treatment chemicals which kill thebacteria. Automatic safety means are provided for inactivating themacerator when the level of treatment chemicals falls below a presetminimum.

In the preferred embodiments of the automatic safety means, the chemicaltabletsi'normally rest on a diaphragm and force the diaphragmagainst anelectrical switch which closes the circuit and allows the macerator andother components of the system to operate so long as the switch remainsclosed. When the level of tablets falls below, a preset minimum, theswitch automatically returns to its normally open position to open thecircuit to the macerator and prohibit further operation ofthe unit.

In one form. the diaphragm lsdisposcd horizontally up a support bracketand has n metal lever secured to the bottom thereof to actuate theswitch. In another form, the diaphragm is mounted at an angle to sidewall of the unit and has a pivotal actuator member adjacent thediaphragm and which operates the electrical switch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken centrally through themaceratorunit;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the treatment unit in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sideview, partially broken away, of the safetymeans shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of. the contact between theactuator lever and theswitch;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing a modifiedembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate the flushing toilet assembly which includes the flush bowlassembly 11 and the macerator chlorina'tor unit 12. When it is desiredto flush the bowl 13, it is merely necessary. to pump the handle 14 onthe double acting pump 15 which draws water through the pipe 16 from asuitable source and forces it into the bowl 13 through the pipe 17. Anelectric pump could also be used in place of the hand pump 15. The pump15 simultaneously draws effluent from the bottom of the bowl 13 andforces it through the pipe 18 into, the macerator chlorinator unit 12for treatment. It is and 22, and the end and side walls 23 and 24defining a closed interior which is separated into a plurality ofchambers. Thus, the first holding chamber 25 is defined by the uprightpartition 26, and the elongated treatment chamber 28 is defined by theupper portion of the partition 26 and the horizontal partition 30. Thistreatment chamber receives flow from the holding chamber 25 through thesmall opening 32 at the intersection of the partitions 26 and 30. Belowthe treatment chamber may be located another holding chamber 33 which isformed between the partitions 26, and and includes a plurality ofvertical baffles 35 so that effluent travels an upward and downward pathfrom the opening 36 from the treatment chamber through the openings 37,38 and 39 at the bottom and top of the baffles 35. The discharge outlet40 from the chamber 33 is provided in the side wall 24, and suitabledrains 41 and 42 are provided in the housing adjacent the bottom wallfor use in cleaning and draining the macerator chlorinator unit 12 formaintenance. The capacity of the holding chamber 33 can be varied, andthis chamber may be-eliminated entirely.

The first holding chamber 25 receives the effluent from the flush bowl13 through the inlet pipe 18 having the time delay pressure sensingswitch assembly 45 mounted therein. This switch includes a housing 46between sections of the pipe 18 with the top of the housing 46 closed bya llcxiblc diaphragm 48. A pressure-actuated switch 50 is provided inthe upper portion 51 of the housing 46 above the diaphragm 48 adapted tohave its contacts shifted when a preset pressure is attained in thechamber 53 above the diaphragm 48. This action initiates operation ofthe macerator unit, as will be further described. The switch 50 is atime delay switch so that, when the pressure in the pipe 18 is relieved,a preset time elapses betype disclosed in the copending application Ser.No. 735,364,

FIG. 6 is a'plan view, partially in section, of the safety I means;

i FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the filedJune 7, I968, and assigned to the assignee of this invention.

The safety apparatus for sensing the level of tablets in the treatmentchamber is shown in FIGS. 38 and includes a diaphragm assembly 55mounted on the side wall 24 of the housing 20 and extending horizontallyinto the treatment chamber 28 a short distance above the bottom wall 30thereof.

housing 57 which extends through the rectangular opening 58 in the sidewall 24 of the housing 20 and is secured thereto by tho eonventlonnlfastening means El) (Fl( 1. 4 The top surface 61 of the housing 57 isrecessed and the diaphragm 62 is clamped over the recess 63 against thehorizontal top surfaces 61 thereof by the ring 64 secured thereto by thescrews 65. A thin disk 66 is disposed adjacent the bottom surface 67 ofthe diaphragm 62 and has the elongated actuator arm 68 rigidly securedthereto and extending through the passage 69 outwardly of the side wall24.

The electrical switch 70 is secured on housing 57 in the enclosure 71 onthe outermost end 72 of the housing 57 with its actuator 74 extendingupwardly to be engaged by the actuator arm 68, as shown in FIG. 3. Thedisk 66 and the actuator arm 68 are interconnected so that they act as asingle member with the arm 68 being supported at one end on the springbiased actuator 74 of the electrical switch 70 and the disk 66 beingsupported at the other end by the shoulder 75 formed in the housing 57.Thus, downward pressure on the diaphragm 62 causes the disk 66 and arm68 to pivot about the support shoulder 75 to depress the actuator 74 andtrip the switch 70.

The weight of the tablets 78 resting on the diaphragm 62 will normallycause the diaphragm 62 to be depressed and the switch 70 closed as longas the preset level of tablets 78 is maintained (FIG. 7). This presetlevel is determined in accordance with the size and capacity of the unitand is sufficient to insure that the effluent is properly treated as itpasses through the chamber 28. Once the level of tablets has fallenbelow this preset level, the weight of the tablets on the diaphragm 62is no longer sufficient to close the switch. The distance that thehousing 57 and diaphragm 62 are spaced above the bottom wall 30 of thetreatment chamber 28 are determined by the preset level of tablets to bemaintained as a minimum in the unit.

The operation of the unit 12 can be best described in connection withthe electrical schematic shown in FIG. 8. Thus, when it is desired toflush the bowl 13, the handle 14 is pumped causing water to be forcedinto the bowl 13 and the effluent to be forced through the pipe 18 intothe macerator chlorinator unit 12. When the effluent flows through thepipe 18, the pressure therein causes the diaphragm 48 (FIG. 1) to moveupwardly and compress the air in the chamber 53 to actuate the switch 50in the line 81 and 82 (FIG. 8) to complete an electrical circuit to themacerator drive motor 83 through line 81, timer 50, lines 82, switch 70,and lines 84 and 85. The motor 83 then rotates the blade 87 (FIG. 1) athigh speed causing the solids to be reduced to a small enough size topass through the space 88 between the outer periphery of the controlplate 89 and the tube 90. The effluent fills the holding chamber 25 andthen flows into the treatment chamber 28 through the opening 32.

The treatment chamber 28 has been previously filled with chemicaltablets 78, e.g., chlorine, so that the weight thereof on the diaphragm62 has closed the switch 70. As a result, the electrical circuit throughthe lines 82 and 84 is completed by the switch 70a. The effluent istreated in the chamber 28 by contact with the chemical tablets 78 sothat the waste acquires treating chemical before passing through theopening 36. If the unit has a holding chamber 33, the effluent settlesas it flows between the baffles 35 through the openings 37, 38 and 39,and then it is subsequently discharged from the unit 12 through thedischarge opening 40.

As the flushing cycle is completed, the pressure in the inlet pipe 18falls and the diaphragm 48 returns to its normal position therebyreducing the pressure in the chamber 53 and urging the pressuresensitive switch 50 to its inactive position. However, because thisswitch is a time delay switch, a preset time elapses before the switch50 opens. As a result, the drive motor 83 continues to operate and theeffluent in the pipe 18 and in the tube 90 continues to be processed fora preset short time, after which the switch 50 automatically opens andterminates operation of the motor 58. The switch 50 also functions tomaintain constant operation of the macerator as the pump is manuallyoperated in a cyclic manner.

After the unit 12 has been used for a considerable number of cycles, thetablets 78 become depleted to the point that the diaphragm 62 returns tothe alternate position under the bias of the actuator 74 to open thecircuit through lines 82 and 84 to the drive motor 83 to terminate orprohibit operation of the macerator motor 83. Thereafter, when theoperation of the flushing pump 15 closes the switch 50 to operate themacerator, the circuit through the line 82 and 92 is completed toenergize the light 94 to provide a signal that additional tablets mustbe placed in the treatment chamber 28. Until this is done, no effluentcan be discharged from the unit because the pumping action would quicklycause solids to build up around the macerator blade 87 and the space 88,thus barring the possibility that effluent which has not been properlytreated to kill the bacteria will be discharged. To refill the treatmentchamber 28 with tablets 78, it is necessary to apply a slight downwardpressure to the cap 95 (FIG. 1) and then turn the same to remove the cap95 and fill the chamber 28 to again close the switch 70 to enable normaloperation of the unit once again.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 9- 11 wherein thediaphragm assembly includes a housing 101 adapted to be inserted througha suitable rectangular opening 102 in the side wall 24 of the housing 20of the unit 12. The diaphragm or boot 103 is made of rubber or otherresilient material and is clamped in place by the peripheral flange 104of the housing 101 which is secured to the side wall 24 by theconnectors 105 (FIG. 11). The internal portion of the housing 101includes the downwardly tapered side walls 106 having theinterconnecting bottom wall 107 defining the interior of the switchchamber 110 which is surrounded and sealed by the tapered front andsides of the diaphragm 103.

The switch actuator is in the form ofa rectangular plate 112 pivotallymounted on the pin 113 at its top ends so that the pressure on the frontwall of the diaphragm 103 tends to pivot the actuator in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 9. The switch 70a ismounted in position on the bracket 115 by the fastening means 116 sothat its actuator 117 engages the plate 112 and urges this plate awayfrom the switch 70a due to an internal spring in the switch. The outerportion of the switch chamber 110 is enclosed by cover 118 which is alsosecured in place by the screws 105 and which has a suitable outlet 119for the electrical conductors 120 (FIG. 11).

When the tablets 78 within the treatment chamber 28 are above a presetlevel, the weight thereof resting against the front wall of thediaphragm 103 is sufficient to pivot the plate 112 against the bias ofthe switch actuator 117 to close the switch 70 and maintain normaloperation of the unit. However, when the level of tablets falls belowthe preset level, as shown in FIG. 9, the bias of the switch 70 movesthe plate 112 and diaphragm 103 back to their unflexed position whereinthe electrical circuit to the macerator motor 83 is opened and furtheroperation of the unit is.not possible. Otherwise, this embodiment issubstantially identical in construction and operation to that describedabove in connection with FIGS. 1- -8.

A modified form of the diaphragm assembly 55a is shown in FIG. 12wherein the arm 68a on the thin disk 66a is provided with a pivot 120midway between its ends and resting on the top surface 121 of thehousing 570. The inner end 122 of the disk 66a is spaced from theadjacent housing 57a and does not pivot on a shoulder as in FIGS. 3 and7. The switch 70b is mounted above the outer end 123 of arm 68a so thatweight or pressure on the diaphragm 62a causes counterclockwise movementof the disk 66a to actuate the switch 70!) against the bias of theswitch itself. This embodiment is otherwise identical to the FIGS. l8embodiments in structure and operation.

Accordingly, the invention has provided an improved macerator unit whichis completely automatic and fail safe in that it does not permiteffluent which has not been properly treated to be discharged from theunit. The drive motor is not permitted to operate once the level oftablets or other treatment chemical in the treatment chamber falls belowa preset level. In particular, the invention has provided an improveddiaphragm sensing apparatus which senses the weight of ,the

tablets or other treatment chemical normally resting thereagainst sothat .the unit is permitted to operate only as use in a maceratorchlorinator system, and .can be useful in other systems to sense anclsignal pressure or level of liquid or solid particles in a chamber. 7

While the formsof. apparatus herein described constitute preferredembodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to these precise forms of apparatusQand that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim:

l. A treatment unit for the effluent from a toilet, comprising ahousing'having partitions therein to divide the interior'into separate chambersincluding a first chamber, a treatment chamber adapted to receive theflow from said first chamber, an inlet to said first chamber, an outletfrom said treatment chamber, macerator means associated with said firstchamber for reducingsolid particles in the effluent to a preset smallsize, said treatment chamber adapted to receive and hold a preset amountof solidtreatment chemicals for purifying the effluent, and diaphragmmeans mounted in said treatment chamber and adapted to have at least aportion'of the solid a portion thereof extending into said treatmentchamber.

3.-A treatment unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said diaphragm housingincludes a horizontally disposed diaphragm, a switch mounted in saiddiaphragm housing, and

.6. A treatment unit as defined in claim 3 wherein said actuator meansincludes a disk-shaped member mounted below said diaphragm, a shoulderon said diaphragm housing adapted to said diaphragm, pivot means on saiddisk support means intermediate the ends thereof, and means connectingone end of said support means with said switch thereby enabling pressureon said diaphragm to pivot said support means about said pivot means toactuate said switch.

8. A treatment unit as defined in claim 5 wherein said sloping diaphragmincludes a side and bottom walls adapted to 'seal saiddiaphragm housingfrom said treatment chamber,

said actuator means operable to hold said diaphragm in an extendedposition against the weight of the solid treatment chemicals.

9. A treatment unit as defined in claim 7 wherein said actuator meansincludes a plate adapted for pivotal movement about its upper end, saidswitch being mounted in said diaphragm housing to urge said plateagainst said diaphragm so that the weight of the solid treatmentchemicals is operable to actuate said switch when the chemicals exceedsaid safe level.

10. A treatment unit for the effluent from a toilet, comprising ahousing, a treatment chamber adapted to receive the flow of effluentfrom the toilet, an inlet to said treatment chamber, an outlet from saidtreatment chamber, macerator actuator means adapted to interconnect saiddiaphragm with said switch. to enable the weight of treatment chemicalson said diaphragm to actuate said switch.

4. A treatment unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said diaphragm alsoincludes means'to inactivate said macerator means.

5. A treatment unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said diaphragm housingincludes a sloping. diaphragm, a switch mounted in saidfdiaphragmhousing, and actuator means adapted to interconnect said slopingdiaphragm with said switch to enable the weight of treatment chemicalson said diaphragm to actuate said switch.

means associated with said inlet for reducing solid particles in theeffluent to a preset small size, said treatment chamber adapted toreceive and hold chemical tablets for purifying the effluent, anddiaphragm means against which the tablets are adapted to rest, saiddiaphragm means sensing when the amount of tablets is below apredetermined safe level to then provide a signal that the supply oftreatment chemicals requires replenishing.

11. A treatment unit as defined in claim 10 wherein said diaphragm meansalso inactivates said macerator when the supply of chemicals falls belowsaid predetermined level.

12. A treatment unit as defined in claim 11 wherein said diaphragm meansinclude a resilient flat surface against which when the amount ofmaterial is below a predetermined safe level to then provide a signal.

